Murphleavy Paying Early Dividends

Don’t look now, but the Pacers seem to be progressing with Murphy and Dunleavy — as one of our readers pointed out.
After Saturday’s blowout win over Toronto, the Pacers are 3-1 with Murphy leavy in the lineup. They have averaged 100.5 points in those four games, up from 95.6 before Murphleavy. Even more, with Murphleavy, they’ve allowed 94.3 points per game, compared with 96.6 before their arrival.
Dunleavy’s numbers aren’t too impressive. In four games, he’s averaging 13.2 points on 38 percent shooting (19-for-50), 4.5 rebounds, 3.3 assists and 2.5 turnovers. He’s getting his fair share of shots (clealry they think he’s a shooter).
Murphy is averaging a double-double for the Pacers (10.5 points, 10.8 rebounds).
Of course, as we well know, numbers don’t tell the whole story.

Marcus Thompson

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perhaps it’s the thing that used to kill us as fans, their lack of aggression on offense, that suits the pacers. Jackson and Harrington need the ball, and if they don’t get the ball (and produce with it) they become disinterested (I’ve noticed this with Jackson as a W already). But the warriors had so few offensive options pre-trade, and they have a system that demand offensive aggressiveness and output, that these two mesh better. Murph and Dunleavy are “blend” players as Nelson has described them. they won’t pout when they don’t get the ball, will pass, cut and rebound, and won’t get in the way of O’Neil and Granger. Carlisle’s system doesn’t demand their offensive output like Nellie’s. He’s not looking for them to be dominant as Nellie was, and seems happy that they don’t want to be dominant, as perhaps Jackson and Harrington do. So maybe this will end up being a trade that benefits all, as many NBA pundits have said already.

commish

I’ve been reading the local paper (Star) regarding the trade. The consensus is that it is a win-win for both teams with the possible big upside coming from Ike. So far that hasn’t panned out, but it’s early. I think the key is Murphleavy got their hair cut, clearly indicating they were taking their responsibilities much more seriously. Where was Monte when we needed him?

JustPuked

Murphy’s rebounding numbers never tell the full story. He purposely fails to adequately challenge guys that drive to the hoop in the hopes that he’ll be in position to get the defensive rebound if they miss the shot. Selfish, selfish, selfish. The so called offensive advantages of Murphy and Dunleavy are non existent. Can you imagine either Murphy or Duneleavy getting 29 or 30 points in a game as Jackson and Harrington have done? No. Plus, Harrington and Jackson are upgrades on defense. Sure, neither is going to make the all first team defense, but at least they aren’t in the running for all worst team defense like Murphleavy. Throw in the 30 million saved of the cap and I just don’t see how anybody can call this trade a wash. There is no way the Pacers will be as markedly improved as the Warriors already are from this trade.